DEF 14A
1
definproxystmt.txt
PROXY STMT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant [ X ]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[ X ] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
14a-6(e)(2))
[ ] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant toss.240.14a-2
USAllianz Variable Insurance Products Trust
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
-----------------------------------------------------
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[ X ] No fee required
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11
1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction
computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the
amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it
was determined):
4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
5) Total fee paid:
[ ] Fee previously paid with preliminary materials.
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange
Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting
fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration
statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
1) Amount Previously Paid:
2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
3) Filing Party:
4) Date Filed:
USALLIANZ VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS TRUST
USAZ MONEY MARKET FUND
55 GREENS FARMS ROAD
WESTPORT, CONNECTICUT 06881
August 6, 2002
Dear Allianz Life and Preferred Life Variable Life Policy or Variable Annuity
Contract Owner:
The Board of Trustees of USAZ Money Market Fund (the "Fund"), which is a
series of the USAllianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the "Trust"), has
called a special meeting of the Fund's shareholders. At the meeting, you will be
asked to (1) approve an Assignment and Portfolio Management Agreement dated June
24, 2002 (the "Assignment Agreement") among USAllianz Advisers, LLC ("USAZ"),
the Trust, and Allianz of America, Inc. ("AZOA") and (2) to vote on a proposal
that would permit the Fund's investment manager to enter into, terminate, and
materially amend sub-advisory agreements with sub-advisers of the Fund without
shareholder approval, subject to approval by the Fund's Board of Trustees.
If shareholders approve the proposal to allow the Fund's investment manager
to enter into, terminate, and materially amend sub-advisory agreements with
subadvisers of the Fund without shareholder approval, subject to approval of the
Fund's Board of Trustees, the Fund will become part of the same
"manager-of-managers" structure that will apply to the other series of the Trust
upon the Trust's receipt of the SEC exemptive relief described in the enclosed
proxy statement.
IF SHAREHOLDERS APPROVE THE PROPOSALS, THE INVESTMENT ADVISORY FEE FOR THE
FUND WILL NOT CHANGE, NOR WILL THE OTHER FEES AND EXPENSES BORNE BY FUND
SHAREHOLDERS. USALLIANZ ADVISERS, LLC OR ONE OF ITS AFFILIATES WILL PAY THE
EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THE PREPARATION AND MAILING OF THE ENCLOSED PROXY
STATEMENT AND THE HOLDING OF THE SPECIAL MEETING, SO THAT FUND SHAREHOLDERS WILL
NOT BEAR THESE EXPENSES.
As the owner of a variable life insurance or variable annuity contract
issued by Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America or Preferred Life
Insurance Company of New York, you are an indirect participant in the Fund.
Accordingly, we are asking you to indicate whether you approve or disapprove of
this proposal by completing and returning the enclosed voting instruction form.
THE FUND'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE "FOR" BOTH
PROPOSALS.
Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN AND
RETURN THE ENCLOSED VOTING INSTRUCTIONS FORM(S) SO THAT YOUR VOTE MAY BE
COUNTED. A POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE IS ENCLOSED FOR THIS PURPOSE.
The enclosed proxy statement contains further information about the
proposals. Please read the entire proxy statement carefully before you vote.
Thank you for your prompt attention and participation.
Sincerely,
/s/ Christopher Pinkerton
--------------------------
Christopher Pinkerton
President
USALLIANZ VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS TRUST
USAZ MONEY MARKET FUND
55 GREENS FARMS ROAD
WESTPORT, CONNECTICUT 06881
NOTICE OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
A Special Meeting of Shareholders of USAZ Money Market Fund (the " Fund")
will be held on August 30, 2002, at 10:00 a.m., Central Daylight Time at the
offices of Bisys Fund Services at 3435 Stelzer Road, Columbus, Ohio 43219 for
the following purposes:
1. TO APPROVE AN ASSIGNMENT AND PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT DATED JUNE
24, 2002 AMONG USALLIANZ ADVISERS, LLC, USALLIANZ VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS
TRUST, AND ALLIANZ OF AMERICA, INC. NO FEE INCREASE IS PROPOSED.
2. TO CONSIDER AND ACT UPON A PROPOSAL THAT WOULD PERMIT THE FUND'S
INVESTMENT MANAGER TO ENTER INTO, TERMINATE, AND MATERIALLY AMEND SUB-ADVISORY
AGREEMENTS WITH SUB-ADVISERS OF THE FUND WITHOUT SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL, SUBJECT
TO APPROVAL BY THE FUND'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
3. TO TRANSACT SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING
OR ANY ADJOURNMENT THEREOF.
Dated: August 6, 2002 By Order of the Board of Trustees,
/s/ Michael J. Radmer
Michael J. Radmer
Secretary
Shareholders of record at the close of business on July 26, 2002 are
entitled to vote at the special meeting.
The Fund issues and sells its shares to Allianz Life Variable Account A and
Allianz Life Variable Account B, which are separate accounts of Allianz Life
Insurance Company of North America ("Allianz Life"), and to Preferred Life
Variable Account C, which is a separate account of Preferred Life Insurance
Company of New York ("Preferred Life"). (Allianz Life Variable Account A,
Allianz Life Variable Account B, and Preferred Life Variable Account C are
referred to together as the "Separate Accounts.") The Separate Accounts hold
shares of mutual funds, including the Fund, which fund benefits under flexible
premium deferred variable annuity contracts or flexible premium variable life
insurance contracts which are issued by Allianz Life and Preferred Life
(collectively, "Contracts").
As the owners of the assets held in the Separate Accounts, Allianz Life and
Preferred Life are the sole shareholders of the Fund and are entitled to vote
all of the shares of the Fund. However, pursuant to applicable laws, Allianz
Life and Preferred Life vote outstanding shares of the Fund in accordance with
instructions received from the owners of the Contracts. This Notice is being
delivered to Contract owners who, by virtue of their ownership of the Contracts,
beneficially owned shares of the Fund as of the record date for the special
meeting, so that they may instruct Allianz Life and Preferred Life how to vote
the shares of the Fund underlying their Contracts.
YOU CAN VOTE EASILY AND QUICKLY. JUST FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS THAT APPEAR
ON YOUR ENCLOSED VOTING INSTRUCTION FORM.
PROXY STATEMENT
AUGUST 6, 2002
USAZ MONEY MARKET FUND
(A SERIES OF USALLIANZ VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS TRUST)
55 GREENS FARMS ROAD
WESTPORT, CONNECTICUT 06881
TELEPHONE: 1-877-833-7113
INTRODUCTION
This proxy statement is being provided to you in connection with the
solicitation by the Board of Trustees of USAllianz Variable Insurance Products
Trust (the "Trust") of voting instructions to be voted at a special meeting of
shareholders of USAZ Money Market Fund (the "Fund"), which is a series of the
Trust. The special meeting will be held on August 30, 2002, at 10:00 a.m.,
Central Daylight Time at the offices of Bisys Fund Services at 3435 Stelzer
Road, Columbus, Ohio 43219. The voting instructions that are being solicited
also may be voted at any adjournment of the special meeting.
The first proposal to be voted upon would approve the Assignment and
Portfolio Management Agreement dated June 24, 2002 (the "Assignment Agreement")
among USAllianz Advisers, LLC ("USAZ"), the Trust, and Allianz of America, Inc.
("AZOA"). The background and reasons for this proposal are described below under
the caption "Proposal One: Approval of Assignment and Portfolio Management
Agreement." THE FUND'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE
"FOR" THIS PROPOSAL.
The second proposal to be voted upon would permit the Fund's investment
manager to enter into, terminate, and materially amend sub-advisory agreements
with sub-advisers of the Fund without shareholder approval, subject to approval
by the Fund's Board of Trustees. The background of and reasons for this proposal
are described below under the caption "Proposal Two: Manager of Managers
Structure." THE FUND'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE
"FOR" THIS PROPOSAL.
The Fund issues and sells its shares to Allianz Life Variable Account A and
Allianz Life Variable Account B, which are separate accounts of Allianz Life
Insurance Company of North America ("Allianz Life"), and to Preferred Life
Variable Account C, which is a separate account of Preferred Life Insurance
Company of New York ("Preferred Life"). (Allianz Life Variable Account A,
Allianz Life Variable Account B, and Preferred Life Variable Account C are
referred to together as the "Separate Accounts.") The Separate Accounts hold
shares of mutual funds, including the Fund, which fund benefits under flexible
premium deferred variable annuity contracts or flexible premium variable life
insurance contracts that are issued by Allianz Life and Preferred Life
(collectively, "Contracts").
As the owners of the assets held in the Separate Accounts, Allianz Life and
Preferred Life are the sole shareholders of the Fund and are entitled to vote
all of the shares of the Fund. However, pursuant to applicable laws, Allianz
Life and Preferred Life vote outstanding shares of the Fund in accordance with
instructions received from the Contract owners. Accordingly, this proxy
statement and the accompanying voting instruction form are being delivered to
Contract owners who, by virtue of their ownership of the Contracts, beneficially
owned shares of the Fund as of the record date for the special meeting, so that
they may instruct Allianz Life and Preferred Life how to vote the shares of the
Fund underlying their Contracts. Further voting information is set forth below
under the caption "Voting Information."
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THE FUND WILL FURNISH, WITHOUT CHARGE, A COPY OF ITS MOST RECENT ANNUAL
REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS AND ITS MOST RECENT SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS
SUCCEEDING SUCH ANNUAL REPORT, IF ANY, TO A CONTRACT OWNER UPON REQUEST. SUCH
REQUESTS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO USALLIANZ SERVICE CENTER, 300 BERWYN PARK, P.O.
BOX 3031, BERWYN, PENNSYLVANIA 19312-0031 IF MADE BY MAIL AND TO (800) 624-0197
IF MADE BY TELEPHONE.
This proxy statement and the accompanying voting instruction form are first
being mailed to Contract owners on or about August 8, 2002.
PROPOSAL ONE
APPROVAL OF ASSIGNMENT AND PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
BACKGROUND
The Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act") prohibits any person
from serving as an investment adviser (or sub-adviser) to a registered
investment company except pursuant to a written contract that has been approved
by the shareholders of the registered investment company. Prior to June 24,
2002, AZOA served as the Fund's investment adviser pursuant to an Investment
Advisory Agreement dated October 27, 1999 (the "Advisory Agreement") that was
last approved by the sole shareholder of the Fund prior to public offering. The
Fund had no sub-adviser. However, AZOA has advised USAZ that AZOA is in the
process of exiting the business of advising and sub-advising registered
investment companies. In order to transition toward AZOA's departure as
investment adviser of the Fund, the Board of Trustees approved a change in the
management structure of the Fund under which AZOA now serves as the Fund's
sub-adviser and USAZ serves as the Fund's manager (the "Management Change"). The
change was effectuated by entering into an Assignment Agreement that involved
affiliated investment advisers with no change in the Fund's investment advisory
fees.
Under Section 15(a) of the 1940 Act, the investment advisory contract must
include a provision that provides for automatic termination of the investment
advisory contract in the event of its assignment. Section 2(a)(4) of the 1940
Act defines "assignment" to include "any direct or indirect transfer or
hypothecation of a contract." If no exception were available, the assignment of
the Advisory Agreement from AZOA to USAZ described above would result in the
automatic termination of the Advisory Agreement. However, Rule 2a-6 under the
1940 Act provides that a transaction which does not result in a change of actual
control or management of the investment adviser to an investment company is not
an assignment for purposes of the 1940 Act provisions involving automatic
termination upon assignment. The Fund believes that the Management Change did
not involve such a change of actual control or management in which case the
Advisory Agreement would not terminate and no shareholder vote would be
required. However, you are being asked to approve the Assignment Agreement in
order to ensure compliance with the 1940 Act.
EFFECT OF THE ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT
The Assignment Agreement results in USAZ becoming the investment manager to
the Fund and AZOA becoming the sub-adviser to the Fund without any increase in
advisory fees charged to the Fund. In Section 1 of the Assignment Agreement,
AZOA assigns its rights and obligations under Advisory Agreement with the Trust
with respect to the Fund to USAZ, USAZ accepts the assignment, and the Trust
consents to the assignment. Thus, USAZ becomes the investment manager for the
Fund. In Section 2 of the Assignment Agreement, the Trust authorizes USAZ to
retain sub-advisers for the Fund. In the remainder of the Assignment Agreement,
USAZ retains AZOA as sub-adviser for the Fund.
2
Advisory fees charged to the Fund will not increase as a result of the
Management Change. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001, AZOA was
entitled to receive $158,500 in advisory fees under the Advisory Agreement, of
which AZOA waived $142,507.85. The Advisory Agreement provides for an investment
advisory fee of 0.35 percent of average net assets to be paid to AZOA pursuant
to Schedule A and Section 4 of the Advisory Agreement. The investment advisory
fee paid by the Fund as a result of the Management Change does not increase.
Under the Assignment Agreement, USAZ assumes the right to this advisory fee and
pays AZOA 0.35 percent of average net assets as an investment management fee
pursuant to Section 7 and Schedule A of the Assignment Agreement. Thus, the
advisory fee of 0.35 percent of average net assets remains the same after the
Management Change.
Other than the changes described above in connection with the execution of
the Assignment Agreement, the Advisory Agreement contains the same terms and
conditions after the Management Change. A copy of the Assignment Agreement is
attached as Exhibit A to this proxy statement. A copy of the Advisory Agreement
is attached as Exhibit B to this proxy statement.
BOARD DELIBERATIONS
At a meeting held on February 27, 2002 the Fund's Board of Trustees,
including the Board members who are not "interested persons" (as defined in the
1940 Act) of any party to the Assignment Agreement or its affiliates, approved
the Assignment Agreement and recommended that shareholders of the Fund approve
such Assignment Agreement.
Prior to and during the meeting, the independent directors requested and
received all information they deemed necessary to enable them to determine
whether implementation of the Assignment Agreement was in the best interest of
the Fund. In approving the Assignment Agreement, the Board determined that in
order to assure the continuity and efficiency of advisory and sub-advisory
services upon AZOA's exit from the business of advising and sub-advising
registered investment companies, it would be in the best interest of the Fund to
approve the Assignment Agreement. In connection with its review of the
Assignment Agreement, the Board reviewed materials furnished by USAZ and AZOA.
These materials included written information regarding USAZ and AZOA, and their
personnel, operations and financial condition. The Board also considered the
nature, quality and scope of the management services already provided by USAZ to
other funds offered by the Trust. The Board noted that approving the Management
Change would bring the Fund closer to the management structure employed by other
funds in the Trust. In addition, the Board considered the fact that the
Assignment Agreement would remain substantially the same, including the
compensation terms. The Board also noted that the implementation of the
Management Change would not increase expenses to the Fund and its shareholders.
The expenses of proxy solicitation will be borne by USAZ or its affiliates.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE MANAGER
The Management Change allows USAZ to serve as the manager for all the
series of the Trust. USAZ has entered into portfolio management agreements
similar to the Assignment Agreement with various sub-advisers for portfolio
management functions for certain funds. USAZ is a registered investment adviser
and a Minnesota limited liability company located at 5701 Golden Hills Drive,
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55416. Allianz AG Holding is the principal owner of the
Manager. Allianz AG Holding, headquartered in Munich, Germany, is one of the
world's largest insurance and financial services companies with operations in 70
countries.
The following table lists the name, address, and principal occupation of
the principal executive officer and each director of USAZ. Christopher Pinkerton
is an officer and director of USAZ and of the Fund. Jeffrey Kletti is an officer
and director of USAZ and is also an officer the Fund.
3
NAME ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION
---- ------- --------------------
Christopher Pinkerton 5701 Golden Hills Drive Chief Manager and Chief Executive
Golden Valley, MN 55416 Officer/Director, USAllianz
Advisers, LLC
Jeffrey Kletti 5701 Golden Hills Drive Senior Vice President/Director,
Golden Valley, MN 55416 USAllianz Advisers, LLC
Michael Ahles 5701 Golden Hills Drive Treasurer and Chief Financial
Golden Valley, MN 55416 Officer, USAllianz Advisers, LLC
The following table lists the name, address, and basis of control for all
affiliated persons of USAZ who control USAZ either directly or indirectly.
NAME ADDRESS BASIS OF CONTROL
---- ------- ----------------
Allianz Life 5701 Golden Hills Drive Member and owner of over 75% of
Golden Valley, MN 55416 USAllianz Advisers, LLC
AZOA 55 Greens Farms Road Shareholder of over 75% of Allianz
Westport, CT 00881 Life
Allianz AG Holding Koniginstrasse 28, D-80802 Shareholder of over 75% of AZOA
Munich, Germany
PROPOSAL TWO
MANAGER OF MANAGERS STRUCTURE
BACKGROUND
Under the 1940 Act, the investment manager for a mutual fund cannot enter
into a sub-advisory agreement with a sub-adviser for the fund, or materially
amend an existing sub-advisory agreement, without the affirmative vote of the
fund's shareholders. In April 2001, the Trust filed an application with the SEC
seeking an order exempting the Trust from this rule (the "Order"), so that it
can operate in a so-called "manager of managers" structure. Under a "manager of
managers" structure, the fund's investment manager is responsible for selecting,
monitoring, and, if necessary, replacing one or more sub-advisers for the fund,
subject to approval by the fund's board of trustees, but without shareholder
approval. Thus, in a "manager of managers" structure, the fund's shareholders
rely on the fund's investment manager to select the sub-advisers who will manage
the fund's assets, rather than looking to the investment manager to manage these
assets directly.
It is anticipated that one condition of the Order will be that shareholders
of any series of the Trust which relies on the Order whose prospectus did not
disclose from inception that it would operate within a "manager of managers"
structure must approve the structure before it can be implemented as to that
series. Because the Fund is such a series, shareholders of the Fund must approve
the "manager of managers" structure before it can be implemented. In addition,
the SEC must grant the Order before the structure can be implemented. The Trust
expects that the Order will be granted in the near future, although there is no
assurance that this will be the case. USAZ currently acts as the investment
manager for the Fund, and its affiliate AZOA currently acts as sub-adviser for
the Fund.
4
OPERATION OF THE MANAGER OF MANAGERS STRUCTURE
If the Order is granted and Fund shareholders approve this proposal, the
investment manager of the Fund will be permitted, with the approval of the
Fund's Board of Trustees (including a majority of its disinterested trustees),
but without further shareholder approval, to:
o enter into sub-advisory agreements with one or more sub-advisers for the Fund;
o materially amend such sub-advisory agreements, including changing the
compensation payable by the investment manager to the sub-adviser or
sub-advisers;
o terminate such sub-advisory agreements, and enter into new sub-advisory
agreements with replacement sub-advisers; and
o enter into a new sub-advisory agreement with an existing sub-adviser whose
sub-advisory agreement has automatically terminated pursuant to the 1940 Act
due to its deemed "assignment" upon a change in control of the sub-adviser.
You should note that even if the Order is granted and Fund shareholders
approve this proposal, the Fund will not be permitted to enter into a new
investment management agreement with a new investment manager without the
affirmative vote of the Fund's shareholders. In addition, the investment
management agreement between the Fund and its investment manager will not be
able to be materially amended without the affirmative vote of the Fund's
shareholders. This means, among other things, that the compensation payable by
the Fund to the investment manager under the management agreement cannot be
increased without shareholder approval.
You also should note that changes in sub-advisory fees, which will be able
to be made without shareholder approval, do not result in changes to advisory
fees payable to the investment manager, since sub-advisory fees are paid by the
investment manager to the sub-adviser, and are not paid directly by the Fund.
If the Order is granted and Fund shareholders approve this proposal, the
Fund's investment manager will continue to have ultimate responsibility to
oversee the Fund's sub-advisers and to recommend their hiring, termination, and
replacement. The investment manager also will have overall supervisory
responsibility for the general management and investment of the Fund and,
subject to the review and approval by the Fund's Board of Trustees, will:
o set the Fund's overall investment strategies;
o evaluate, select and recommend sub-advisers to manage all or part of the
Fund's assets;
o monitor and evaluate the investment performance of the Fund's sub-advisers;
and
o implement procedures reasonably designed to insure that the Fund's
sub-advisers comply with the Fund's investment objectives, policies and
restrictions.
CONDITIONS TO THE ORDER
If the Order is granted, it is expected to contain several conditions with
which the Fund and its investment manager will be required to comply. These
conditions include the following:
5
o The Fund's investment manager will not enter into a sub-advisory
agreement on behalf of the Fund with any affiliated sub-adviser,
unless the Fund's shareholders have approved the agreement, including
the compensation to be paid thereunder.
o At all times, a majority of the Fund's Board of Trustees will be
persons who are not "interested persons" within the meaning of the
1940 Act. In addition, the nomination of new or additional independent
trustees will be placed within the discretion of the then-existing
independent trustees.
o No trustee or officer of the Fund or director or officer of its
investment manager will own directly or indirectly (other than through
certain pooled investment vehicles) any interest in a sub-adviser for
the Fund except for (i) the ownership of interests in the investment
manager or any entity that controls, is controlled by, or is under
common control with the investment manager, or (ii) ownership of less
than 1% of the outstanding securities of any class of equity or debt
of a publicly-traded company that is the Fund's sub-adviser or an
entity that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with
the sub-adviser.
o Within 90 days of the hiring of any new sub-adviser, the Fund's
investment manager will furnish the Fund's shareholders all the
information about the new sub-adviser that would be included in a
proxy statement. The disclosure will include any changes in such
information caused by the addition of the new sub-adviser.
ADVANTAGES OF MANAGER OF MANAGERS STRUCTURE; BOARD OF TRUSTEES RECOMMENDATION
The Board of Trustees believes that implementation of the proposed "manager
of managers" structure would be in the best interests of Fund shareholders. This
structure will enable the Fund's investment manager, with the Board's approval,
to change the Fund's sub-advisers when it believes performance or other factors
so warrant, without incurring the expense and delay associated with holding a
shareholders meeting to approve the change.
In addition, if the Order is granted, all of the other series of the Trust
also will implement the "manager of managers" structure, so that the Fund's
investment manager will act as a "manager of managers" across all other series
of the Trust. Thus, the Board expects the Fund's investment manager to have the
structure, resources and procedures appropriate to fulfill its role as the
"manager of managers" for the Fund.
In addition to these advantages, the Board of Trustees also took note of
the shareholder-protective conditions that the Order is expected to include, as
described under the caption "--Conditions to the Order" above. The Board also
took into account the fact that the investment advisory fee for the Fund will
not change, nor will the other fees and expenses borne by Fund shareholders, if
the Order is granted and shareholders approve this proposal. Finally, the Board
noted that USAllianz Advisers, LLC or its affiliates will pay all costs incurred
in connection with the special meeting of shareholders. In light of all of these
considerations, the Board of Trustees unanimously recommends that the Fund's
shareholders approve the proposal.
VOTING INFORMATION
GENERAL
You have the right to instruct Allianz Life or Preferred Life on how to
vote the shares held under your Contract. If you execute and return your voting
instruction form, but do not provide voting instructions, Allianz Life and
6
Preferred Life will vote the shares underlying your Contract in favor of the
proposal described above. Allianz Life and Preferred Life will vote any shares
for which they do not receive a voting instruction form, and any shares which
they or their affiliates hold for their own account, in proportionately the same
manner as shares for which they have received voting instructions.
In order for the shareholder meeting to go forward, there must be a quorum.
This means that at least 25% of the Fund's shares must be represented at the
meeting either in person or by proxy. Because Allianz Life and Preferred Life
are the only shareholders of the Fund, their presence at the meeting in person
or by proxy will meet the quorum requirement. If a quorum is not obtained or if
sufficient votes to approve the proposal are not received, the persons named as
proxies may propose one or more adjournments of the meeting to permit further
solicitation of voting instructions. Any adjournment will require a vote in
favor of the adjournment by the holders of a majority of the shares present in
person or by proxy at the meeting (or any adjournment of the meeting).
You may revoke your voting instructions up until voting results are
announced at the meeting or any adjournment of the meeting by giving written
notice to Allianz Life or Preferred Life prior to the meeting, by executing and
returning to Allianz Life or Preferred Life a later dated voting instruction
form, or by attending the meeting and voting in person. If you need a new voting
instruction form, please call the Fund at (800) 624-0197, and a new voting
instruction form will be sent to you. If you return an executed form without
voting instructions, your shares will be voted "for" the proposal.
USAllianz Advisers, LLC or its affiliates will pay all costs of
solicitation, including the cost of preparing and mailing the notice of special
meeting of shareholders and this proxy statement to Contract owners.
Representatives of USAllianz Advisers, LLC, without cost to the Fund, may
solicit voting instructions from Contract owners by means of mail, telephone, or
personal calls.
7
OUTSTANDING SHARES AND VOTING REQUIREMENTS
Those individuals owning Contracts representing shares at the close of
business on July 26, 2002, the record date for the special meeting, may provide
voting instructions for the meeting or any adjournment of the meeting. The
number of shares of the Fund outstanding on the record date is listed in the
table below. To the best knowledge of the Fund, no person other than Allianz
Life and Fireman's Fund owned, of record or beneficially, 5% or more of the
outstanding shares of the Fund as of the record date. Information as of that
date with regard to Allianz Life's and Fireman's Fund's ownership in the Fund is
provided below:
PERCENT OF PERCENT OF
SHARES OWNED OUTSTANDING SHARES OWNED OUTSTANDING SHARES
SHARES BY ALLIANZ SHARES OWNED BY BY FIREMAN'S OWNED BY
FUND OUTSTANDING LIFE(1) ALLIANZ LIFE FUND(1) FIREMAN'S FUND
---- ----------- ------- ------------ ------- --------------
USAZ Money Market Fund 155,914,934 142,492,117 91.39% 10,914,280 7.00%
(1) The address of Allianz Life is 5701 Golden Hills Drive, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55416. The address of
Fireman's Fund is 777 San Marin Drive, Novato, California 94998.
Shareholders of the Fund are entitled to one vote for each dollar, and a
fractional vote for each fraction of a dollar, of net asset value per share for
each share of the Fund held. At the record date for the special meeting, the
Fund's net asset value per share was $1.00.
Approval of the proposal requires the favorable vote of a majority of the
outstanding shares of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act, which means the
lesser of the vote of (a) 67% of the voting power of shares of the Fund present
at a meeting where more than 50% of the outstanding voting power of the Fund is
present in person or by proxy, or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding voting
power of the Fund. Unless otherwise instructed, the proxies will vote for the
approval of the proposal.
OTHER MATTERS
Management of the Fund knows of no other matters that may properly be, or
which are likely to be, brought before the special meeting. However, if any
other business shall properly come before the special meeting, the persons named
on the voting instruction form intend to vote thereon in accordance with their
best judgment.
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OTHER INFORMATION
INVESTMENT MANAGER, SUB-ADVISER, PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER, AND ADMINISTRATOR
The names and addresses of the Fund's investment manager and sub-adviser,
principal underwriter, and administrator are as follows:
Investment manager: USAllianz Advisers, LLC
5701 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55416
Sub-adviser: Allianz of America, Inc.
55 Greens Farms Road
Westport, Connecticut 00881
Principal underwriter: BISYS Fund Services, Limited Partnership
3435 Stelzer Road
Columbus, Ohio 43219
Administrator: BISYS Fund Services Ohio, Inc.
3435 Stelzer Road
Columbus, Ohio 43219
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
The Trust is not required to hold annual shareholders meetings. Since the
Trust does not hold regular meetings of shareholders, the anticipated date of
the next shareholders meeting cannot be provided. Any shareholder proposal which
may properly be included in the proxy solicitation material for a shareholders
meeting must be received by the Trust no later than 120 days prior to the date
proxy statements are mailed to shareholders.
9
Exhibit A
USALLIANZ VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS TRUST
ASSIGNMENT AND PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
USAZ MONEY MARKET FUND
AGREEMENT, made this 24th day of June, 2002 by and between USAllianz
Advisers, LLC (the "Manager"), USAllianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the
"Trust") and Allianz of America, Inc. (the "Portfolio Manager").
WHEREAS, the Trust is a Delaware business trust of the series type
organized under an Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated July 13, 1999 (the
"Declaration") and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended (the "1940 Act"), as an open-end, management series-type investment
company;
WHEREAS, the Portfolio Manager currently acts as the investment manager
for the USAZ Money Market Fund series of the Trust (the "Fund") pursuant to an
Investment Advisory Agreement dated October 27, 1999 (the "Advisory Agreement");
WHEREAS, the Manager, the Trust and the Portfolio Manager desire that
(i) the Portfolio Manager's rights and obligations under the Advisory Agreement
with respect to the Fund shall be assigned by it to the Manager and assumed by
the Manager, which thus will become the investment manager for the Money Market
Fund, and (ii) the Manager simultaneously shall retain the Portfolio Manager to
act as subadviser with respect to the Fund.
WHEREAS, the Portfolio Manager is registered as an investment adviser
under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended ("Advisers Act");
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants
herein contained, it is agreed between the Manager, the Trust and the Portfolio
Manager as follows:
1. Assignment. The Portfolio Manager hereby assigns to the Manager all
of the Portfolio Manager's rights and obligations under the Advisory Agreement
with respect to the Fund. The Manager hereby accepts such assignment and assumes
all of the Portfolio Manager's obligations under the Advisory Agreement. The
Trust hereby consents to such assignment and assumption and releases the
Portfolio Manager from its obligations under the Advisory Agreement, other than
its obligations with respect to acts and omissions committed by it prior to the
date of this Agreement.
2. Authorization of Use of Subadvisers. The Trust hereby authorizes the
Manager, subject to approval in each case by the Trustees of the Trust, to
retain one or more subadvisers for the Fund, and to direct that such subadvisers
shall exercise full discretion in furnishing investment advice to the Fund and
arranging for the execution of portfolio transactions for the Fund, subject only
to general oversight by the Manager and the Board of Trustees of the Trust. The
Manager shall be responsible for monitoring, or arranging for others to monitor,
compliance by the subadvisers with the investment policies and restrictions of
the Fund and with such other limitations or directions as the Board of Trustees
of the Trust may from time to time prescribe. The Manager shall report to the
Board of Trustees of the Trust regularly at such times and in such detail as the
Board may from time to time determine to be appropriate.
3. Appointment of Subadviser. Pursuant to authority granted in section
2 above and with the approval of the Trustees of the Trust (the "Trustees"), the
Manager hereby appoints the Portfolio Manager to act as portfolio manager for
the Fund for the periods and on the terms set forth in this Agreement. The
Portfolio Manager accepts such appointment and agrees to furnish the services
herein set forth, for the compensation herein provided.
4. Portfolio Management Duties. Subject to the overall supervision of
the Trustees and the Manager, the Portfolio Manager is hereby granted full
responsibility and discretion, with respect to the Fund for (a) the management
of the Fund in accordance with the Fund's investment objectives, policies and
limitations as stated in its prospectus and Statement of Additional Information
included as part of the Trust's registration statement filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), as they may be amended from time to time
(the "Registration Statement"), copies of which shall be provided to the
Portfolio Manager by the Manager; and (b) the placement of orders to purchase
and sell securities for the Fund. At the request of the Manager, the Portfolio
Manager shall report to the Trustees or Manager regularly at such times and in
such detail as reasonably agreed to by the Manager and the Portfolio Manager.
The Manager has herewith furnished the Portfolio Manager copies of the Fund's
current Prospectus, Statement of Additional Information, Declaration and Bylaws
(collectively, "Documents") and agrees during the continuance of this Agreement
to furnish the Portfolio Manager copies of any amendments or supplements thereto
before or at the time the amendments or supplements become effective. Until the
Manager or Trust delivers such amendments or supplements to the Portfolio
Manager, the Portfolio Manager will be fully protected and entitled to rely on
the Documents most recently furnished to it by the Manager or the Trust.
The Portfolio Manager further agrees that, in performing its duties
hereunder, it will:
(a) comply with the 1940 Act and all rules and regulations thereunder,
the Advisers Act, the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code") and all other
applicable federal and state laws and regulations, and with any applicable
procedures adopted by the Trustees;
(b) use reasonable efforts to manage the Fund, and to coordinate its
activities with the Manager, so that the Fund will qualify, and continue to
qualify, as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code and
regulations issued thereunder, and will comply, and continue to comply, with the
adequate diversification requirements of Section 817(h)(2) of the Code;
(c) place orders for the investment of the Fund directly with the
issuer, or with any broker or dealer, in accordance with applicable policies
expressed in the prospectus and/or Statement of Additional Information with
2
respect to the Fund and in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
Specifically, in executing portfolio transactions and selecting broker-dealers,
the Portfolio Manager will use its best efforts to seek best execution on behalf
of the Fund. In assessing the best execution available for any transaction, the
Portfolio Manager shall consider all factors it deems relevant, including,
without limitation, the breadth of the market in the security, the price of the
security, the financial condition and execution capability of the broker-dealer,
the size and difficulty in executing the order, and the reasonableness of the
commission, if any (all for the specific transaction and on a continuing basis).
In evaluating the best execution available, and in selecting the broker-dealer
to execute a particular transaction, the Portfolio Manager may also consider the
brokerage and research services (as those terms are used in Section 28(e) of the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934) provided to the Fund and/or other accounts
over which the Portfolio Manager or an affiliate of the Portfolio Manager
exercises investment discretion. The Portfolio Manager is authorized to pay a
broker-dealer who provides such brokerage and research services a commission for
executing a portfolio transaction for the Fund which is in excess of the amount
of commissions another broker-dealer would have charged for effecting that
transaction if, but only if, the Portfolio Manager determines in good faith that
such commission was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and
research services provided by such broker-dealer viewed in terms of that
particular transaction or in terms of all of the accounts over which the
Portfolio Manager or an affiliate of the Portfolio Manager investment
discretion.
Provided the investment objectives of the Fund and applicable law are
adhered to, the Portfolio Manager may aggregate sale and purchase orders of
securities and other investments held in the Fund with similar orders being made
simultaneously for other accounts managed by the Portfolio Manager or with
accounts of affiliates of the Portfolio Manager in accordance with a formula
believed to be equitable to each account, taking into consideration an
advantageous selling or purchase price, brokerage commissions and other
expenses, and beneficial timing of transactions, or a combination of these and
other factors;
(d) furnish to the Trust, the Manager and any other portfolio manager
whatever statistical information the Trust, the Manager or such other portfolio
manager may reasonably request with respect to the Fund or contemplated
investments; keep the Manager and the Trustees informed of developments
materially affecting the Fund's portfolio; and, on the Portfolio Manager's own
initiative, furnish to the Trust or the Manager from time to time whatever
information the Portfolio Manager believes appropriate for this purpose;
(e) make available to the the Trust or the Manager, promptly upon their
request, such copies of its investment records and ledgers with respect to the
Fund as may be required to assist the Trust's administrator (the
"Administrator"), the Trust and the Manager in their compliance with applicable
laws and regulations. The Portfolio Manager will furnish the Trustees or the
Manager with such periodic and special reports regarding the Fund as the
Trustees or the Manager may reasonably request;
(f) immediately notify the Trust and the Manager in the event that the
Portfolio Manager: (1) becomes aware that it is subject to a statutory
3
disqualification that prevents the Portfolio Manager from serving as a portfolio
manager pursuant to this Agreement; or (2) becomes aware that it is the subject
of an administrative proceeding or enforcement action by the SEC or other
regulatory authority. The Portfolio Manager further agrees to notify the Trust
and the Manager immediately of any material fact known to the Portfolio Manager
respecting or relating to the Portfolio Manager that is not contained in the
Trust's Registration Statement regarding the Fund, or any amendment or
supplement thereto, but that is required to be disclosed therein, and of any
statement contained therein respecting or relating to the Portfolio Manager that
becomes untrue in any material respect;
(g) in making investment decisions with respect to the Fund, use no
material non-public information that may be in its possession, nor will the
Portfolio Manager seek to obtain any such information.
Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Portfolio Manager
shall not be responsible hereunder for compliance monitoring, reporting or
testing or for preparing or maintaining books and records for the Fund or
otherwise providing accounting or pricing services to the Fund and such services
shall be provided by others retained by the Fund. The Portfolio Manager shall
have access to such reports and records to assist it in performing its services
hereunder.
The Portfolio Manager shall not be responsible for pursuing or
defending legal causes of action that may be based on the purchase, sale or
holding of a security by the Fund. The Portfolio Manager shall, however, provide
notice to the Manager of any such potential claim and provide reasonable
cooperation to the Manager in any possible proceeding.
5. Banking and Custody Accounts. The Portfolio Manager shall not be
required to provide or arrange for banking accounts for the Fund or to hold
money or assets on the Fund's behalf. The Portfolio Manager shall not be
required to act as the registered holder of any investment or to provide or
procure any custody or settlement services in connection with its services
hereunder. The Fund has entered into one or more agreements with providers of
banking and custody services (Custodians) whom the Fund will authorize to act
upon instructions from properly authorized representatives of the Portfolio
Manager, in connection with its services hereunder, directing the Custodian(s)
to pay, deliver or receive cash and securities in settlement of transactions
authorized by the Portfolio Manager on the Fund's behalf. The Fund's
agreement(s) with such Custodian(s) will require the Custodian(s) to settle all
transactions directed by the Portfolio Manager on the Fund's behalf at the
Fund's expense.
6. Allocation of Charges and Expenses. The Portfolio Manager shall not
be required to pay any expenses of the Trust or the Fund other than those
specifically allocated to the Portfolio Manager in this section 6. In
particular, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Portfolio
Manager shall not be responsible for the following expenses of the Trust or the
Fund: organization and offering expenses of the Trust and the Fund (including
out-of-pocket expenses, but not including the Portfolio Manager's overhead and
employee costs); fees payable to or expenses of other portfolio managers or
consultants; legal expenses; auditing and accounting expenses; interest
expenses; telephone, telex, facsimile, postage and other communications
4
expenses; taxes and governmental fees; fees, dues and expenses incurred by or
with respect to the Trust or the Fund in connection with membership in
investment company trade organizations; costs of insurance; fees and expenses of
the Trust's Administrator or of any custodian, subcustodian, transfer agent,
registrar, or dividend disbursing agent of the Trust or the Fund; payments for
portfolio pricing or valuation services to pricing agents, accountants, bankers
and other specialists, if any; other expenses in connection with the issuance,
offering, distribution, redemption or sale of securities issued by the Fund;
expenses relating to investor and public relations; expenses of registering and
qualifying shares of the Fund for sale; freight, insurance and other charges in
connection with the shipment of the Fund's portfolio securities; brokerage
commissions or other costs of acquiring or disposing of any portfolio securities
or other assets of the Fund, or of entering into other transactions or engaging
in any investment practices with respect to the Fund; expenses of printing and
distributing prospectuses, Statements of Additional Information, reports,
notices and dividends to shareholders; costs of preparing, printing and filing
documents with regulatory agencies; costs of stationery and other office
supplies; expenses of any litigation or other extraordinary or nonrecurring
events and expenses relating to the issuance, registration and qualification of
the shares of the Fund; costs of shareholders' and other meetings; the
compensation and all expenses (specifically including travel expenses relating
to the business of the Trust or the Fund) of officers, Trustees and employees of
the Trust who are not interested persons of the Portfolio Manager; and travel
expenses (or an appropriate portion thereof) of officers or Trustees of the
Trust who are officers, directors or employees of the Portfolio Manager to the
extent that such expenses relate to attendance at meetings of the Board of
Trustees of the Trust, or any committees thereof or advisory group thereto or
other business of the Trust or the Fund.
7. Compensation. As compensation for the services provided and expenses
assumed by the Portfolio Manager under this Agreement, the Manager, out of its
fees from the Fund pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, will pay the Portfolio
Manager at the end of each calendar month an investment management fee computed
daily at an annual rate equal to the percentage of the Fund's average daily net
assets specified in Schedule A hereto. The "average daily net assets" shall mean
the average of the values placed on the net Fund assets as of the time at which,
and on such days as, the Fund lawfully determines the value of its net assets in
accordance with the prospectus or otherwise. The value of the net assets of the
Fund, shall always be determined pursuant to the applicable provisions of the
Declaration and the Registration Statement. If, pursuant to such provisions, the
determination of net asset value for the Fund is suspended for any particular
business day, then for the purposes of this section 7, the value of the net
assets as last determined shall be deemed to be the value of the net assets as
of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange, or as of such
other time as the value of the net assets of the Fund's portfolio may lawfully
be determined, on that day. If the determination of the net asset value of the
shares of the Fund has been so suspended for a period including any month end
when the Portfolio Manager's compensation is payable pursuant to this section,
then the Portfolio Manager's compensation payable at the end of such month shall
be computed on the basis of the value of the net assets as last determined
(whether during or prior to such month). If the Fund determines the value of the
net assets of its portfolio more than once on any day, then the last such
determination thereof with respect to the net assets on that day shall be deemed
5
to be the sole determination thereof on that day with respect to the net Assets
for the purposes of this section 7. If the Portfolio Manager serves less than
the whole of any period specified, its compensation will be prorated.
8. Books and Records. The Portfolio Manager agrees to maintain such
books and records with respect to its services to the Fund as are required by
Section 31 under the 1940 Act, and rules adopted thereunder, and by other
applicable legal provisions, and to preserve such records for the periods and in
the manner required by that Section and those rules and legal provisions. The
Portfolio Manager also agrees that records it maintains and preserves pursuant
to Rules 31a-1 and 31a-2 under the 1940 Act and otherwise in connection with its
services hereunder are the property of the Trust and will be surrendered
promptly to the Trust upon its request. The Portfolio Manager further agrees
that it will furnish to regulatory authorities having the requisite authority
any information or reports in connection with its services hereunder which may
be requested in order to determine whether the operations of the Trust and the
Fund are being conducted in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
9. Standard of Care and Limitation of Liability. The Portfolio Manager
shall exercise its best judgment in rendering the services provided by it under
this Agreement. The Portfolio Manager shall not be liable for any error of
judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust or the Fund or
the holders of the Fund's shares in connection with the matters to which this
Agreement relates, provided that nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to
protect or purport to protect the Portfolio Manager against any liability to the
Trust, the Fund or to holders of the Fund's shares to which the Portfolio
Manager would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith
or gross negligence on its part in the performance of its duties or by reason of
the Portfolio Manager's reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under
this Agreement. As used in this section 9, the term "Portfolio Manager" shall
include any officers, directors, employees or other affiliates of the Portfolio
Manager performing services with respect to the Trust or the Fund.
10. Services Not Exclusive. It is understood that the services of the
Portfolio Manager are not exclusive, and that nothing in this Agreement shall
prevent the Portfolio Manager from providing similar services to other
investment companies or to other series of investment companies (whether or not
their investment objectives and policies are similar to those of the Fund or
another series of the Trust) or from engaging in other activities, provided such
other services and activities do not, during the term of this Agreement,
interfere in a material manner with the Portfolio Manager's ability to meet its
obligations to the Trust, the Manager and the Fund hereunder.
The Manager and the Trust acknowledge that the Portfolio Manager and
its officers, affiliates, and employees, and the Portfolio Manager's other
clients, may at any time have, acquire, increase, decrease, or dispose of
positions in investments which are at the same time being acquired for or
disposed of from the Fund. The Portfolio Manager shall have no obligation to
acquire for the Fund a position in any investment which the Portfolio Manager,
its officers, affiliates or employees may acquire for its or their own accounts
or for the account of another client, if in the reasonable discretion of the
6
Portfolio Manager, it is not feasible or desirable to acquire a position in such
investment for the Fund.
The Manager and the Trust acknowledge that the Portfolio Manager may
give advice and take action with respect to any of its other clients or for its
own account which may differ from the timing or nature of action taken by the
Portfolio Manager with respect to the Fund. The Manager and the Trust
acknowledge that the performance of the Fund may differ from the performance of
other accounts or investment companies managed by the Portfolio Manager and that
the Portfolio Manager is not expected to replicate the holdings or returns of
any other account or fund that it manages.
When the Portfolio Manager recommends the purchase or sale of a
security for other investment companies and other clients, and at the same time
the Portfolio Manager recommends the purchase or sale of the same security for
the Fund, it is understood that in light of its fiduciary duty to the Fund, such
transactions will be executed on a basis that is fair and equitable to the Fund.
In connection with purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the account of
the Fund, neither the Portfolio Manager nor any of its Trustees, officers or
employees shall act as a principal or agent or receive any commission. If the
Portfolio Manager provides any advice to its clients concerning the shares of
the Fund or other funds of the Trust, the Portfolio Manager shall act solely as
investment counsel for such clients and not in any way on behalf of the Trust,
the Fund or another fund of the Trust.
11. Duration and Termination. This Agreement shall continue in effect
with respect to the Fund for two years from the date set forth above and
thereafter shall continue automatically for successive annual periods, provided
such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (i) the Trustees
or (ii) by vote of a "majority" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund's
outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act), provided that in
either event the continuance is also approved by a majority of the Trustees who
are not parties to this Agreement or "interested persons" (as defined in the
1940 Act) of any party to this Agreement, by vote cast in person at a meeting
called for the purpose of voting on such approval. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated with respect to the Fund: (a) at any
time without penalty (i) by the Manager, (ii) by the Trust upon the vote of a
majority of the Trustees or (iii) by vote of the majority of the Fund's
outstanding voting securities, each upon sixty (60) days' written notice to the
Portfolio Manager; or (b) by the Portfolio Manager at any time without penalty,
upon sixty (60) days' written notice to the Trust or the Manager. This Agreement
will also terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in
the 1940 Act).
12. Amendments. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law or
regulatory relief, no provision of this Agreement may be changed, waived,
discharged or terminated orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by
the party against which enforcement of the change, waiver, discharge or
termination is sought, and no amendment of this Agreement shall be effective
until approved by an affirmative vote of (i) a majority of the outstanding
voting securities of the Fund, and (ii) a majority of the Trustees, including a
majority of Trustees who are not interested persons of any party to this
7
Agreement, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such
approval, if such approval is required by applicable law.
13. Proxies and Rights. Unless the Trust or the Manager gives written
instructions to the contrary, the Portfolio Manager shall (a) vote all proxies
solicited by or with respect to the issuers of securities in which the Assets
are invested, using its best good faith judgment to vote such proxies in a
manner which best serves the interests of the Fund's shareholders, and (b)
exercise all other rights attaching to or arising with respect to the Assets,
subject to the Fund's investment objectives, policies and limitations as stated
in their Registration Statement, directing the Custodian to make any required
payment or settlement in connection therewith.
14. Miscellaneous.
-------------
a. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State
of Delaware, provided that nothing herein shall be construed in a manner
inconsistent with the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, or rules or orders of the SEC
thereunder.
b. The captions of this Agreement are included for convenience
only and in no way define or limit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise
affect their construction or effect.
c. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made
invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this
Agreement shall not be affected hereby and, to this extent, the provisions of
this Agreement shall be deemed to be severable.
d. Nothing herein shall be construed as constituting the
Portfolio Manager as an agent of the Trust or the Fund.
e. The provisions of sections 1 and 2 above shall survive any
expiration or termination of this Agreement and shall continue in effect as long
as the Advisory Agreement remains in effect.
[signature page follows]
8
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to
be executed by their officers designated below as of the date first above
written.
USAllianz Variable Insurance Products Trust
By ____/s/ Jeff Kletti_______________
Vice President
Allianz of America, Inc.
By ____/s/ Ron Clark_____________
Treasurer
USAllianz Advisers, LLC
By _____/s/ Jeffrey Kletti_____________
Vice President
9
SCHEDULE A
Fees payable to the Portfolio Manager pursuant to section 7 hereof
shall be at the following annual rates for the Fund:
FUND PERCENTAGE OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS
USAZ Money Market Fund 0.35%
The management fee shall be accrued and paid to the Portfolio
Manager as provided in section 7 of the Portfolio Management Agreement.
10
Exhibit B
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made the 27th day of October, 1999, by and between USALLIANZ
VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS TRUST, a Delaware business trust (the "Trust"), and
Allianz of America, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Adviser").
WHEREAS, the Trust and the Adviser wish to enter into an Agreement
setting forth the terms on which the Adviser will perform certain services for
the Trust, its series of shares as listed on Schedule A to this agreement and
each series of shares subsequently issued by the Trust (each singly a "Fund" or
collectively the "Funds").
THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the mutual agreements
hereinafter contained, the Trust and the Adviser agree as follows:
1. (a) The Trust hereby employs the Adviser to manage the investment and
reinvestment of the assets of each Fund of the Trust in conformity with such
Fund's investment objectives and restrictions as may be set forth from time to
time in the Fund's then current prospectus and statement of additional
information, if any, and other governing documents, and to supervise the
provision of services to the Trust and each of its Funds by others, all subject
to the supervision of the Board of Trustees of the Trust, for the period and on
the terms set forth in this Agreement. The Adviser hereby accepts such
employment and agrees during such period, at its own expense, to render the
services and to assume the obligations set forth herein, for the compensation
provided herein. The Adviser shall for all purposes herein be deemed to be an
independent contractor and shall, unless otherwise expressly provided or
authorized, have no authority to act for or represent the Trust in any way or
otherwise be deemed an agent of the Trust.
(b) In the event that the Trust establishes one or more Funds, in addition to
the Funds listed on Schedule A, for which it wishes the Adviser to perform
services hereunder, it shall notify the Adviser in writing. If the Adviser is
willing to render such services, it shall notify the Trust in writing and upon
execution of an addendum hereto such Fund shall become a Fund hereunder and the
compensation payable to the Adviser by the new Fund will be as agreed in writing
at the time and set forth in such addendum.
2. The Adviser shall place all orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio
securities for the account of each Fund with broker-dealers selected by the
Adviser. In executing portfolio transactions and selecting broker-dealers, the
Adviser will use its best efforts to seek best execution on behalf of each Fund.
In assessing the best execution available for any transaction, the Adviser shall
consider all factors it deems relevant, including the breadth of the market in
the security, the price of the security, the financial condition and execution
capability of the broker-dealer, the reasonableness of the commission, if any
(all for the specific transaction and on a continuing basis). In evaluating the
best execution available, and in selecting the broker-dealer to execute a
particular transaction, the Adviser may also consider the brokerage and research
services (as those terms are used in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act")) provided to a Fund and/or other accounts over
which the Adviser or an affiliate of the Adviser exercises investment
discretion. The Adviser is authorized to pay a broker-dealer who provides such
brokerage and research services a commission for executing a portfolio
transaction for a Fund which is in excess of the amount of commission another
broker-dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if, but only if,
the Adviser determines in good faith that such commission was reasonable in
relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such
broker-dealer viewed in terms of that particular transaction or in terms of all
of the accounts over which investment discretion is so exercised.
3. To the extent not otherwise arranged by the Trust pursuant to other
agreements for management, administration and/or other services, the Adviser, at
its own expense, shall furnish to the Trust office space in the offices of the
Adviser or in such other place as may be agreed upon by the parties from time to
time, all necessary office facilities, equipment and personnel in connection
with its services hereunder, and shall arrange, if desired by the Trust, for
members of the Adviser's organization to serve without salaries from the Trust
as officers or, as may be agreed from time to time, as agents of the Trust. The
Adviser assumes and shall pay or reimburse the Trust for:
(a) the compensation (if any) of the Trustees of the Trust who are affiliated
with the Adviser or with its affiliates, or with any adviser retained by the
Adviser, and of all officers of the Trust affiliated with the Adviser or any of
its affiliates, and
(b)all expenses of the Adviser incurred in connection with its services
hereunder.
The Trust assumes and shall pay all other expenses of the Trust and its Funds,
including, without limitation:
(c) all charges and expenses of any custodian or depository appointed by the
Trust for the safekeeping of the cash, securities and other property of any of
its Funds;
(d) all charges and expenses for administration and management services (except
as otherwise specifically provided in Section 1(a) hereof;
(e) all charges and expenses for bookkeeping and auditors;
(f) all charges and expenses of any transfer agents and registrars appointed by
the Trust;
(g) all fees of all Trustees of the Trust who are not affiliated with the
Adviser or any of its affiliates, or with any adviser retained by the Adviser;
(h) all brokers' fees, expenses, and commissions and issue and transfer taxes
chargeable to a Fund in connection with transactions involving securities and
other property to which the Fund is a party;
(i) all costs and expenses of distribution of shares of its Funds incurred
pursuant to Plans of Distribution adopted under Rule 126-1 under the Investment
Company Act of 1940 ("1940 Act");
(j) all costs and expenses of shareholder servicing;
2
(k) all taxes and trust fees payable by the Trust or its Funds to Federal,
state, or other governmental agencies;
(l) all costs of certificates representing shares of the Trust or its Funds;
(m) all fees and expenses involved in registering and maintaining registrations
of the Trust, its Funds and of their shares with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") and registering or qualifying the Funds' shares
under state or other securities laws, including, without limitation, the
preparation and printing of registration statements, prospectuses, and
statements of additional information for filing with the Commission and other
authorities;
(n) expenses of preparing, printing, and mailing prospectuses and statements of
additional information to shareholders of each Fund of the Trust;
(o) all expenses of shareholders' and Trustees' meetings and of preparing,
printing, and mailing notices, reports, and proxy materials to shareholders of
the Funds;
(p) all charges and expenses of legal counsel for the Trust and its Funds and
for Trustees of the Trust in connection with legal matters relating to the Trust
and its Funds, including, without limitation, legal services rendered in
connection with the Trust and its Funds' existence, trust, and financial
structure and relations with its shareholders, registrations and qualifications
of securities under Federal, state, and other laws, issues of securities,
expenses which the Trust and its Funds has herein assumed, whether customary or
not, and extraordinary matters, including, without limitation, any litigation
involving the Trust and its Funds, its Trustees, officers, employees, or agents;
(q) all charges and expenses of filing annual and other reports with the
Commission and other authorities; and
(r) all extraordinary expenses and charges of the Trust and its Funds.
In the event that the Adviser provides any of these services or pays
any of these expenses, the Trust and any affected Fund will promptly reimburse
the Adviser therefor.
The services of the Adviser to the Trust and its Funds hereunder are
not to be deemed exclusive, and the Adviser shall be free to render similar
services to others.
4. As compensation for the Adviser's services to the Trust with respect to each
Fund during the period of this Agreement, the Trust will pay to the Adviser a
fee at the annual rate set forth on Schedule A for such Fund.
The Adviser's fee is computed as of the close of business on each
business day.
A pro rata portion of the Trust's fee with respect to a Fund shall be
payable in arrears at the end of each day or calendar month as the Adviser may
from time to time specify to the Trust. If and when this Agreement terminates,
any compensation payable hereunder for the period ending with the date of such
3
termination shall be payable upon such termination. Amounts payable hereunder
shall be promptly paid when due.
The Adviser may from time to time and for such periods as it deems
appropriate reduce its compensation (and, if appropriate, assume expenses of one
or more of the Funds) to the extent that any Fund's expenses exceed such lower
expense limitation as the Adviser may, by notice to the Trust, voluntarily
declare to be effective.
5. The Adviser may enter into an agreement to retain, at its own expense, a firm
or firms ("SubAdviser") to provide the Trust with respect to all or any of its
Funds all of the services to be provided by the Adviser hereunder, if such
agreement is approved as required by law. Such agreement may delegate to such
SubAdviser all of Adviser's rights, obligations, and duties hereunder.
6. The Adviser shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law
or for any loss suffered by the Trust or any of its Funds in connection with the
performance of this Agreement, except a loss resulting from the Adviser's
willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or from reckless disregard by
it of its obligations and duties under this Agreement. Any person, even though
also an officer, Director, partner, employee, or agent of the Adviser, who may
be or become an officer, Trustee, employee, or agent of the Trust, shall be
deemed, when rendering services to the Trust or any of its Funds or acting on
any business of the Trust or any of its Funds (other than services or business
in connection with the Adviser's duties hereunder), to be rendering such
services to or acting solely for the Trust or any of its Funds and not as an
officer, Director, partner, employee, or agent or one under the control or
direction of the Adviser even though paid by it.
7. The Trust shall cause the books and accounts of each of its Funds to be
audited at least once each year by a reputable independent public accountant or
organization of public accountants who shall render a report to the Trust.
8. Subject to and in accordance with the Declaration of Trust of the Trust, the
governing documents of the Adviser and the governing documents of any
SubAdviser, it is understood that Trustees, Directors, officers, agents and
shareholders of the Trust or any Adviser are or may be interested in the Adviser
(or any successor thereof) as Directors and officers of the Adviser or its
affiliates, as stockholders of Allianz AG Holding or otherwise; that Directors,
officers and agents of the Adviser and its affiliates or stockholders of Allianz
AG Holding are or may be interested in the Trust or any Adviser as Trustees,
Directors, officers, shareholders or otherwise; that the Adviser (or any such
successor) is or may be interested in the Trust or any SubAdviser as
shareholder, or otherwise; and that the effect of any such adverse interests
shall be governed by the Declaration of Trust of the Trust, governing documents
of the Adviser and governing documents of any SubAdviser.
9. This Agreement shall continue in effect for two years from the date set forth
above and after such date if (a) such continuance is specifically approved at
least annually by the Board of Trustees of the Trust or by a vote of a majority
of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust, and (b) such renewal has been
approved by the vote of the majority of Trustees of the Trust who are not
4
interested persons, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, of the Adviser or
of the Trust, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on
such approval.
10. On sixty days' written notice to the Adviser, this Agreement may be
terminated at any time without the payment of any penalty by the Board of
Trustees of the Trust or by vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding
voting securities of the affected Funds; and on sixty days' written notice to
the Trust, this Agreement may be terminated at any time without the payment of
any penalty by the Adviser. This Agreement shall automatically terminate upon
its assignment (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act). Any notice under this
Agreement shall be given in writing, addressed and delivered, or mailed postage
prepaid, to the other party at the main office of such party.
11. This Agreement may be amended at any time by an instrument in writing
executed by both parties hereto or their respective successors, provided that
with regard to material amendments such execution by the Trust shall have been
first approved by the vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding
voting securities of the affected Funds and by the vote of a majority of
Trustees of the Trust who are not interested persons (as that term is defined in
the 1940 Act) of the Adviser, or of the Trust, cast in person at a meeting
called for the purpose of voting on such approval. A "majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Trust or the affected Funds" shall have,
for all purposes of this Agreement, the meaning provided therefor in the 1940
Act.
12. Any compensation payable to the Adviser hereunder for any period other than
a full year shall be proportionately adjusted.
13. The Trust acknowledges that the Adviser and its affiliates have granted the
Trust the non-exclusive right to use of the name "USAllianz Variable Insurance
Products Trust" and agrees that all rights in and to such name and any and all
service marks or other intellectual property related thereto or associated
therewith are and remain the property of the Adviser and its affiliates. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Trust acknowledges that the
Adviser and its affiliates may withdraw the right to use such name and related
intellectual property by notice in writing to the Trust and upon receipt of such
notice, the Trust agrees to promptly take such steps as may be necessary to
change its name and/or the name of any Funds and to cease use of any
intellectual property belonging to the Adviser or its affiliates.
14. The provisions of this Agreement shall be governed, construed, and enforced
in accordance with the laws of The State of Delaware.
5
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this
Agreement on the day and year first above written.
USALLIANZ VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS TRUST
By: /s/ Brian K. Walker
-----------------------------------------
Name:
Title: Business Analyst
ALLIANZ OF AMERICA, INC.
By: /s/ David Marks
-----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
SCHEDULE A
NAME OF FUND COMPENSATION
Diversified Assets Fund 0.55%
Global Opportunities fund 0.95%
Growth Fund 0.75%
Fixed Income Fund 0.50%
Money Market Fund 0.35%
The advisory fee shall be accrued daily at the rate of 1/365th of the
applicable percentage applied to the daily net assets of each Fund. The advisory
fee so accrued shall be paid to the Adviser as provided in Section 4 of the
Investment Advisory Agreement.
USALLIANZ VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS TRUST
USAZ MONEY MARKET FUND
VOTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR SPECIAL SHAREHOLDERS MEETING
TO BE HELD AUGUST 30, 2002
THESE VOTING INSTRUCTIONS ARE SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF
ALLIANZ LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NORTH AMERICA
AND PREFERRED LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
The undersigned hereby instructs Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America
("Allianz Life") and Preferred Life Insurance Company of New York ("Preferred
Life") to represent and vote the number of shares of the series named above (the
"Fund") represented by the number of votes attributable to the undersigned's
variable annuity contract or variable insurance contract as of July 26, 2002 at
a Special Shareholders Meeting to be held at the offices of BISYS Fund Services
at 3435 Stelzer Road, Columbus, Ohio 43219, on August 30, 2002, at 10 a.m.
Central Daylight Time and at any adjournment thereof, upon the matter below as
set forth in the Notice of Special Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement.
All previous voting instructions with respect to the meeting are revoked.
Receipt of the Notice of Special Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement is
acknowledged by your execution of these voting instructions. Mark, sign, date,
and return these Voting Instructions in the addressed envelope - no postage
required.
IF A CONTRACT OR POLICY OWNER DOES NOT SUBMIT A VOTING INSTRUCTION FORM, THE
SHARES ATTRIBUTABLE TO THEIR CONTRACT OR POLICY WILL BE VOTED IN THE SAME
PROPORTION AS THE VOTES OF CONTRACT AND POLICY OWNERS WHO DO SUBMIT VOTING
INSTRUCTIONS.
PLEASE FILL IN THE BOX AS SHOWN USING BLUE OR BLACK INK OR A NUMBER 2 PENCIL.
PLEASE DO NOT USE FINE POINT PENS. [X]
THESE VOTING INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE VOTED AS INSTRUCTED ON THE MATTER SET FORTH
BELOW. IF YOU SIGN, DATE AND SUBMIT THIS FORM BUT DO NOT INDICATE A CHOICE
BELOW, THESE VOTING INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE VOTED "FOR" SUCH MATTER. UPON ALL OTHER
MATTERS, ALLIANZ LIFE AND PREFERRED LIFE SHALL VOTE ACCORDING TO THEIR BEST
JUDGMENT.
In their discretion, Allianz Life and Preferred Life are each authorized to vote
upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting and any
adjournments or postponements of the meeting unless otherwise prohibited by the
undersigned. Contract and policy owners wishing to vote in accordance with the
Board of Trustees' recommendation need only sign and date this voting
instruction form and return it in the envelope provided.
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
1. To approve an Assignment and Portfolio Management [ ] [ ] [ ]
Agreement dated June 24, 2002 among USAllianz
Advisers, LLC, the USAllianz Variable Insurance
Products Trust, and Allianz of America, Inc.
2. To approve the implementation of a "manager of [ ] [ ] [ ]
managers" structure for the Fund that would permit
the Fund's investment manager to enter into,
terminate, and materially amend sub-advisory agreements
with sub-advisers of the Fund without shareholder approval,
subject to approval by the Fund's Board of Trustees.
Please be sure to sign and date voting instructions
Please sign exactly as name appears to the left.
When signing as attorney, executor, administrator,
trustee, or guardian, please give full title as
such. If signing for a corporation, please sign in
full corporate name by authorized person. If a
partnership, please sign in partnership name by
authorized person.
RECORD DATE SHARES:
------------------------------
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Contract owner(s) sign here
----------------------
Date